ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS
Peter Gomez (right), a new Palm City resident from New York, has his photo taken by runner Payton Hurley of Jensen Beach, while crossing the new Veterans Memorial Bridge linking Palm City to Stuart on Saturday. “We’ve been coming here for years and and we’ve been seeing this bridge being built,” Gomez said. “We couldn’t wait for it to be open; this is historical , this is great, this is fantastic for the community.”

MARTIN COUNTY — Veterans Memorial Bridge had the feel of an old-fashioned town gathering spot on the first morning it was open to the public.